Segmentation Errors and Off-Center Artifacts in SS-OCT: Insight from a Population-Based Imaging Study

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the frequency and associated factors of artifacts in swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) imaging.

Methods

This was a population-based cross-sectional study. Individuals aged 35 years or older, residing in the Yuexiu district of Guangzhou, China, were recruited by random cluster sampling. Nearly half of the participants were randomly selected for SS-OCT imaging centered on the optic nerve head. Six types of artifacts in the peripapillary choroidal layer and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) were graded and identified. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to investigate the association between the presence of artifacts and clinical characteristics.

Results

Out of the 616 eligible individuals who underwent SS-OCT imaging, 18.3% and 13.6% of subjects exhibited at least one artifact in peripapillary RNFL (pRNFL) and peripapillary choroidal thickness (pCT) measurements, respectively, with posterior segmentation error and off-center artifact ranked as the most common artifacts. The presence of artifacts was significantly associated with age (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.06; p = .003), refractive error (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.71–0.89; p < .001), and signal strength (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90–0.997; p = .039) in pRNFL thickness measurement. Similarly, the presence of artifacts in pCT measurement was significantly associated with age (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.03–1.08; p < .001), and refractive error (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.68–0.86; p < .001).

Conclusion

Nearly one-fifth of the eyes were noted with at least one artifact in the population-scale SS-OCT study. Age was a risk factor for the presence of artifacts and should be considered in clinical settings.

Keywords:

• Swept-source optical coherence tomography
• choroidal thickness
• population-based study
• retinal nerve fiber layer thickness
• optic nerve head

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all participants and related staffs of this study.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Author contributions

MH and WW have full access to all the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: MH, WW, and JZ. Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: all authors. Drafting of the manuscript: all authors. Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: all authors. Statistical analysis: WW. Obtained funding: WW and XK. Administrative, technical, or material support: MH and WW. Study supervision: MH and WW.

Patient consent

Obtained.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All relevant data are within the paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [82000901], the Guangzhou Science & Technology Plan of Guangdong Pearl River Talents Program [202102010162], the Fundamental Research Funds of the State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology [303060202400362], and the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [2019B1515120011].